Naturally Inclusive: Engaging Children of All Abilities Outdoors

by Ruth Wilson PhD

Overview

Young children with special needs often face physical, emotional, or social barriers to deep engagement with the natural world. These challenges need not prevent them from enjoying the many benefits nature has to offer.
 
Nature is a necessity. Research tells us that we are happier, healthier, more socially engaged, and more creative when it is part of our daily lives. These benefits apply to people of all ages and abilities.
 
In this inspiring book, Dr. Ruth Wilson explores the great potential of connecting young children with special needs to the natural world. Drawing on her knowledge of research and her decades of work with children in nature, she weaves together advice, real-life examples, and testimonies from educators and families on the healing, nurturing power of nature in the lives of young children with diverse abilities.
 
In addition to exploring the role of nature in our lives, chapters include information on:

• Nature as a teacher and play partner
• Nature for holistic development
• Nature as a healer
• The importance of risk-taking
• Horticultural therapies
• Animal-assisted therapies
• Nurturing connections between children and animals, plants, and habitats

 
Naturally Inclusive is an essential guide for creating inclusive nature-based play spaces and programs that connect every child to nature. It reminds us that nature is both an exemplar of diversity and a catalyst for inclusion.
 
Ruth Wilson, PhD, works as an educational consultant and curriculum writer with special expertise in the area of early childhood environmental education. She has developed programs and initiatives in nature-based educational experiences for zoos and nature centers, state departments of education, and Sesame Street. Dr. Wilson’s career includes working as a classroom teacher in both regular and special-education settings and as a teacher educator at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She serves as the research library curator of the Children and Nature Network.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780876599228
Publisher:	Gryphon House Inc.
Publication date:	04/01/2022
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	472,202
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.45(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Dr. Ruth Wilson works as an educational consultant and curriculum writer with special expertise in the area of early childhood environmental education and other initiatives in connecting young children with nature. Dr. Wilson recently worked with the Brookfield Zoo in developing their NatureStart professional development program and served as a curriculum writer for California’s Education and Environment Initiative. Dr. Wilson also worked with Sesame Street in designing nature education programs and served as an evaluator with the nature preschool at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Milwaukee.  Dr. Wilson’s career includes working as a classroom teacher in both regular and special education settings and as a teacher educator for over ten years at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She works with Children and Nature Network (C&NN) as curator of their research center.

Table of Contents

Preface xi

Acknowledgments xiii

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 The Role of Nature in Our Lives 1

Nature-Our Natural Habitat 2

Children and Nature 2

Naturalistic Intelligence 5

Nature's Contribution to Quality of Life 8

Kinship 9

Shifts in Thinking about the Natural World 9

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 Nature and Young Children with Special Needs 13

Quality of Life for Children with Special Needs 14

Benefits of Nature-Based Interventions for Social-Interaction Issues 17

Nature-Rich Environments as Inclusive Environments 19

The Importance of Risk Taking 25

Chapter 3

Chapter 3 Nature and Children with Autism 33

Defining Autism 34

Quality of Life for Children with Autism 35

Sensory-Processing Issues and Nature-Based Interventions 36

Physical Activity and the Outdoor Environment 38

Supportive Environments for Children with Autism 39

Challenges and Rewards When Working with Children with Autism 46

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 Nature as Teacher 49

Nature-Based Learning 50

Nature-Based Learning and Special Education 53

Early Childhood Nature-Based Learning 56

Nature-Based Learning Today 59

The Child Outdoors 61

Chapter 5

Chapter 5 Nature as Healer 65

The Healing Balm of Nature 66

Stress Reduction Theory 72

Nature-Nurture Programs 73

Nature-Based Therapy 74

Integrated Therapies 77

Knowing Nature as Healer 79

Chapter 6

Chapter 6 Nature as Play Partner 85

Benefits of Play 86

Nature Play 87

Nature as Play Partner 88

Play for Children with Special Needs 90

The inclusive Playspace 93

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 Nature for Holistic Development 97

Connectedness to Nature 98

Ecological Self 100

Nature and a Sense of Well-Being 103

Nature and Spiritual Development 106

Chapter 8

Chapter 8 Connecting through Natural Environments 113

Increasing Children's Access to Nature 115

Natural Playspaces 116

Naturalizing a Playspace 120

Universal Design in Natural Environments 122

Physical Health and Development Benefits of Natural Environments 124

Nature-Connecting Habitats for Children with Special Needs 127

Chapter 9

Chapter 9 Connecting with Animals 131

Animals and Children's Connection to Nature 132

Animals' Effects on Social Interactions, Stress, and Social-Emotional Development 138

Animal-Assisted Therapy 140

Promoting Connections between Children and Animals 142

Knowing Animals as Kin 144

Chapter 10

Chapter 10 Connecting with Plants 149

The Power of Plants 150

What Plants and Trees Offer Children 152

Horticultural Therapy 154

Attention Restoration 155

Promoting Connections between Children and Plants 155

Knowing Plants as Kin 158

Final Thoughts 161

Contributors 163

Index 171